POST SCRIPTS

It probably didn't get much attention because the perpetrator, Laura I. Flores, wasn't an elected official. Also the story of the 5 billion euro bank fraud kind of took the media spotlight for fraud cases the past few days.
I think the big question would be how often does this happen in congressional offices.

Jim, I agree with you about the big question and it's true that big events can capture headlines...it's nice of you to give the media the benefit of the doubt...but:

The point I will continue to make, whenever I can, is that the press doesn't treat all scandals equally. Scooter Libby wasn't an elected official and his so called "case" was relentlessly featured in the press for the specific purpose of giving republican leadership a black eye and a bad name. He is paying a terrible price for a mispoken word or faulty memory during a "fishing" exercise to get the president...period.

The headline on this story, had this been a republican congressional office, would have begun, "Republican ex-House Staffer...".

If we the people don't demand accurate balanced reporting we won't get it. The editorial pages are the proper place for opinion, persuasion, bias and slant. Too often this area of journalisic expression bleeds conveniently onto the front page...day, after day, after day.

Thanks for posting, your thoughts add some "balance" to my rants. LOL...and that's a good thing too.

Martha Stewart and Paris Hilton went to jail....Scooter Libby didn't...there is no equal justice for all in this country!

Martha Stewart, rich and a conservative republican got serious jail time over a relatively minor first offense. Average con commits 16-18 felonies on average before his first trip to the joint. Paris Hilton irresponsible, unaccountable, rich brat freed after serving only a fraction of the jail time due her and after multiple offenses.

What conclusions can be drawn from this Lois Lane? Now think about it really hard, don't just give us a knee jerk response. Do some homework.

Although he eliminated Libby's prison term, Bush did not grant him a full pardon, which was sought by some conservatives and would have erased his conviction. As a consequence, Libby will still have to pay a $250,000 fine and will remain on probation for two years. The president said Libby's punishment remained "harsh," in part because his professional reputation "is forever damaged."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/02/AR2007070200825.html

Note to lois lane-

When the courts refused to allow Scooter Libby to remain free while his lawyers appealed the case the President decided to commute his sentence that included 21/2 years in prison. He did not pardon him, which meant the following would still apply:

Although he eliminated Libby's prison term, Bush did not grant him a full pardon...(which) would have erased his conviction. As a consequence, Libby will still have to pay a $250,000 fine and will remain on probation for two years. The president said Libby's punishment remained "harsh," in part because his professional reputation "is forever damaged."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/02/AR2007070200825.html

That is not a small price to pay...especially when compared to for instance to:

The non-conviction and non-sentence that Ted Kennedy received after Chappaquidick. (He got to be a congressman forever!)

The slap on the wrist that Sandy Berger received after smuggling top secret documents from the National Archives in the midst of an investigation into pre 911 intellegence. The papers he blatantly stole and destroyed most likely had information relating to what Bill Clinton knew or, did or did not do, prior to 911.

The following is commentary on the news coverage on this and the Berger sentence as posted on "Real Clear Politics":

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/01/sandy_bergers_free_ride_from_t.html

Of all the articles about Berger's case -- from the revelation that he was the subject of an inquiry through the recent release of the National Archives inspector general's report -- only one made it to the front page of either The Washington Post or the New York Times…. President Clinton's national security adviser will not see the inside of a jail cell. His $50,000 fine sounds big, but it's roughly equivalent to a few weeks out of his princely salary.

I think he also lost his licence to practice law for a couple of years...not a very big deal for him.

The point of the original post was about the differences in news coverage. I think the fact that the Berger theft was not front page news in arguably the countries most prominent papers says alot.

Tina, never forget that the media is a business. Like all businesses, they need so satisfy the customers, so they will report and cover what people want to read and hear. Being fair has little to do with running a successful business.

I appreciate your thoughts about successful business, my husband and I jumped off the cliff and started a business. After twenty years I can honestly say I have a good sense ofhe difficulties that businesses face.

The news business is tricky but your point of view is one that is often taken by inexperienced parents: when he cries I let him have his way and he stops crying...problem solved. The trouble with this solution is that the kid becomes a very big headache down the road.

The challenge for people in the news business is to find a way to grab the attention of the reader/listener/viewer. You don't have to slant the news, to lie, pander and distort information to do this...that easy way out only becomes a very big headache and problem down the road.

You know the most amazing thing about the success of talk radio...the people who listen have become better citizens. They are better informed and educated. Most of been inspired to improve their lives in one way or another. Isn't that a good part of the purpose behind the dissemination of information?

And by the way I'm not talking about being fair...I'm talking about being clear...honest...factual. It's time the media got back in touch with it's nobler purposes...satisfaction about the product would be immeasurable for both businessman and reader/listener/viewer